In this insightful episode of the "Women of Community Banking" podcast, join host Anurag Mukherjee as he sits down with Caroline Willard, the dynamic CEO of Cornerstone League. With nearly 30 years in financial services, including over two decades dedicated to credit unions, Caroline shares her remarkable journey from banking and CUSOs to leading one of the most prominent credit union leagues.Discover what truly fuels Caroline's passion for the credit union movement, her "Ikigai" – the inner reason that keeps her going. She opens up about the unique challenges she faced as a woman navigating the financial services industry and offers invaluable advice for aspiring female leaders, including the power of asking good questions, embracing diligence, and the importance of self-awareness in leadership.Caroline provides a candid look at the current landscape of the credit union movement, discussing the significant threat of losing the federal income tax exemption, the ever-increasing regulatory burden, and the evolving competitive landscape driven by consumer demands for seamless digital experiences. She emphasizes the crucial role of advocacy and strategic partnerships in ensuring credit unions remain the best choice for communities.TakeawaysCaroline's passion for credit unions drives her leadership.The credit union movement focuses on community support.Women in leadership should embrace curiosity and ask questions.Advocacy is crucial for the survival of credit unions.Regulatory burdens are a significant challenge for credit unions.Technology adoption is essential for credit unions to remain relevant.Self-awareness in leadership styles is important for women.Common sense regulations are needed in the financial sector.Collaboration among credit unions enhances their effectiveness.The future of credit unions depends on adapting to consumer expectations.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Caroline and Her Journey03:03 The Passion for Credit Unions05:49 Career Path and Leadership Insights08:50 The Role of Advocacy in Credit Unions11:57 Challenges Faced by Women in Leadership15:04 Advice for Aspiring Female Leaders17:53 Current State of the Credit Union Movement21:00 Future Challenges and Opportunities23:53 Looking Ahead to 2025 Caroline Willard : https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-willard-cce-cude-cae-659a385/

Join us as we sit down with Miriam Mitchell, the Chief Lending Officer of Addition Financial, in this insightful episode of our podcast series. With 26 years of experience in the financial services industry, Miriam shares her incredible journey from starting as a teller to becoming a leader in the credit union space.In This Episode:Discover Miriam's inspiring career path and how she transitioned from psychology to finance.Learn about the challenges she faced as a female leader in a male-dominated industry and how perseverance and mentorship played a crucial role in her success.Explore how Addition Financial uses data-driven strategies to make informed decisions and stay competitive in the market.Gain insights into the current financial landscape and what 2025 holds for the credit union ecosystem, especially in Florida.Whether you're an aspiring leader, a data enthusiast, or someone interested in the financial industry, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and advice.TakeawaysThe impact of lending on people's lives is profound.Having a clear mission and vision is essential for motivation.Miriam transitioned from a bank to a credit union, realizing her passion for community impact.Hands-on experience in various roles is crucial for leadership.Data-driven decision-making is vital in the lending industry.Perseverance is key for female leaders in male-dominated fields.Believing in oneself is crucial to overcoming self-doubt.Seizing opportunities can lead to personal and professional growth.The lending market in 2025 is expected to be challenging.Mentorship plays a significant role in career development.Sound Bites"You need a mission and a vision""Perseverance is the key""Never doubt yourself, believe in yourself""Always say yes to opportunities""2025 is still gonna be a challenging year"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Miriam and Her Journey02:18 The Impact of Lending on Lives03:54 Miriam's Career Path and Transition to Credit Unions08:01 Current Role and Responsibilities as Chief Lending Officer10:38 Data-Driven Decision Making in Lending13:37 Challenges Faced as a Female Leader19:38 Advice for Aspiring Leaders22:31 Outlook for 2025 in the Lending Market

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "Women of Community Banking" podcast! In this episode, host Anurag Mukherjee is joined by the remarkable Reva Rao, a trailblazer in the financial services industry with a rich career spanning over 25 years. Reva's journey is nothing short of inspiring, having transitioned from the bustling financial hubs of Australia to the dynamic markets of the United States.What You'll Learn:Reva's Unique Journey: Discover how Reva navigated her career across continents, from starting in Australia to making impactful contributions at major institutions like JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo, and eventually embracing the community-driven mission of credit unions.The Power of Continuous Learning: Reva shares her passion for staying ahead of industry trends and the importance of innovation in banking.Challenges in Leadership: Gain insights into the hurdles faced by women in leadership roles and the strategies Reva employed to overcome them.Lending 2.0: Explore the evolution of lending practices with the integration of technology, data analytics, and the critical role of fraud prevention.Future of Credit Unions: Understand the impact of macroeconomic conditions on the lending ecosystem and what the future holds for credit unions.Advice for Aspiring Leaders: Reva offers practical advice for women aiming to make their mark in the financial sector, emphasizing adaptability, networking, and having a clear vision.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Reva Rao and Her Journey02:56 The Evolution of Banking and Lending06:10 Transitioning from Traditional Banking to Credit Unions08:48 Challenges Faced as a Woman in Leadership12:00 Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders14:50 The Future of Lending: Trends and Innovations17:50 Impact of Macro Economic Conditions on Lending21:04 Looking Ahead: The Credit Union Ecosystem in 2025 & beyond

In this heartfelt episode of the Women of Community Banking podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with @KarenKoundourakis, Chief Retail Officer of Lake Michigan Credit Union ( @LMCU ) in Tampa, Florida. Karen shares her inspiring journey, from her early career in social work and community banking to finding her true calling in the credit union movement.Karen, a proud adoptive mother, opens up about her deep passion for helping children succeed and her personal experience adopting her daughter from Guatemala. She discusses how her personal mission aligns perfectly with the credit union's purpose of changing lives, emphasizing that true leadership lies in the small, daily moments of mentorship and empowerment.The conversation delves into the challenges Karen has faced as a woman leader, particularly in balancing competing priorities, and how she navigates these with grace and a focus on her core values. She shares her unique perspective on celebrating failures as opportunities for growth and building sustainable infrastructure for the future.Looking ahead, Karen discusses her vision for leveraging artificial intelligence and technology not to replace jobs, but to enhance human capacity within the financial industry, allowing team members to focus on building meaningful relationships and providing financial coaching. She outlines how leaders have a responsibility to prepare their workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.Finally, Karen offers an optimistic outlook on the credit union movement in 2025. Despite economic challenges, she emphasizes the unwavering commitment of credit unions to their members, highlighting the need for innovation and a "smart optimism" to continue changing lives regardless of external conditions. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in purpose-driven leadership, community impact, and the future of financial services.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Karen Koundourakis03:01 The Essence of Leadership05:57 Karen's Journey in Banking and Community Service09:04 Passion for Helping Kids11:54 Overcoming Challenges as a Woman Leader16:11 Role and Vision at LMCU19:01 Future Aspirations for Kids and Technology23:03 Optimism for the Credit Union Movement

n this insightful episode of the "Women of Community Banking" podcast, @AmeriCUMarketing Credit Union COO Alissa Sykes Tulloch shares her inspiring journey from teller to executive. With over two decades of experience, Alissa dives into her passion for community impact and the "people helping people" philosophy. She discusses leveraging data for personalized member experiences, navigating growth challenges, and exciting initiatives like mergers and new product development. Discover why Alissa is optimistic about the credit union industry's crucial role in supporting communities through economic shifts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Alisa Sykes Tulloch02:05 The Impact of Community Banking04:45 Alisa's Career Journey08:59 The Role of Credit Unions in Financial Literacy11:45 Challenges in Talent Development14:45 Leveraging Data for Decision Making19:06 Exciting Developments at @AmeriCUMarketing Credit Union21:29 Outlook for 2025 and Beyond#AlissaSkyesTulloch#creditunions #marketing #lending #financialliteracy #womeninleadership #data #decisionmaking #newyork

S𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹: 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗢’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴On the Women of Community Banking Podcast we sat down with Sam Tate, Chief Operating Officer at First City Credit Union to talk about her journey - immigrating to a new country, building from the ground up, and rising into executive leadership.This isn’t just a story of career growth. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and leading with clarity in an industry that’s evolving fast.Sam’s insights on operational leadership, culture, and member-centricity are a powerful reminder of what community banking stands for - and what it can become.#creditunions #WomenInBanking #CreditUnionMovement #communitybanking #leadershipjourney #WomenWhoLead

Thrilled to welcome Kathy Bader Courtney, Chief Experience & Operating Officer at GreenState Credit Union to Women of Community Banking Podcast!Kathy’s career is a masterclass in leadership - spanning continents, industries, and institutions.From management consulting to executive roles at Northern Trust, and now driving GreenState’s phenomenal growth, redefining what’s possible in the credit union ecosystem.We dove into strategy, scale, and the power of putting members first.This conversation is a must-listen!#creditunions #financialservices #leadership #datascience #iowa #riskmanagement

We had the pleasure of hosting Jaynel Christensen, Executive Vice President at @CommonwealthCU From her beginnings in lending to leading the growth function followed by stepping into the role of EVP - Jaynel’s career is a powerful example of what it means to lead with purpose, resilience, and vision.She talked about building high-performing teams, creating space for others to lead, and staying rooted in the credit union mission.This episode is all heart, grit, and wisdom.#creditunions #leadership #lending #growth #makeawishfoundation #kentucky